Britney Spears regrets not fleeing Hollywood and "going home" to Louisiana after the break-up of her marriage to Kevin Federline - because such a move might have saved her sanity.

The pop superstar suffered a breakdown at the beginning of 2008 and was twice admitted to hospital for mental evaluations as she battled for custody of her two young sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

And now, looking back, she wishes she'd driven south - to be with her family, away from paparazzi flashbulbs and constant media pressure.

In a candid MTV documentary, which aired on Sunday night, the singer said, "You would have thought that I would have gone home, like, I would have taken the kids and I would have gone to Louisiana.

"I think back now and I'm like, 'Why didn't I, in that fragile state of mind?' I'm breastfeeding one kid and the other one's with me and I have a nanny.

"Why didn't I just up and go to Louisiana?"